Church Birdhouse Plans

Bird House Plans

This church birdhouse plan was designed to be used by wrens, chickadees, titmice, and finches, but other small birds might find this particular design suitable for nesting. This church-style birdhouse was made from all natural western red cedar fencing materials.

Church Birdhouse

We were inspired to design a church birdhouse, after years of admiring the small wooden churches we passed while en route to countless RV destinations. I imagine these old country churches were built by local carpenters who were respected members of the original congregation. They must have been proud to have been able to make such a fine contribution to their community.


Church Birdhouse Plans

This church bird house was built from 1x6 cedar fencing, except the front cap, which was made from a piece of scrap 1x4 cedar, and the steeple, which was made from a short section of 2x4 cedar.

Church Birdhouse Plans

Cut the front, back, sides, ridge beam, and base to the sizes indicated in the church birdhouse plans. Assemble all of these pieces together using 16 gauge galvanized finish nails, as shown, except one of the side pieces. This will be the side cleanout door.

Attach the side cleanout door using two 1-1/2" galvanized hinge screws located 3/4" from each side of the top of the door, screwed in from the front panel and the back panel (see drawings).

Church Birdhouse Plans

Cut and attach the front cap, using 1-1/4" galvanized finish nails (shorter nails are used so that they don't poke through the back of the front panel).

Building the Roof of the Church Birdhouse

Since the length of the roof slope is 8", you will need to use two pieces of 1x6 material to build each side. First, starting with the peak sections, cut two pieces of 1x6 9" long. The bevel cut at the roof peak is a steep 65 degrees.

To cut this angle, I set the bevel on my table saw at 25 degrees (90 degrees - 65 degrees = 25 degrees), and set the table saw's fence close to the blade (but not too close!!!), and fed the 1x6 sections (on edge) into the table saw blade. This allowed me to cut the 65 degree bevel.

Attach the two peak roof sections, centered front to back of the church birdhouse, with 16 gauge galvanized finish nails. To build the lower roof sections, rip some 1x material wide enough to complete the 8" roof slope.

Cut and attach the steeple as shown in the church birdhouse diagrams using the same 16 gauge galvanized finish nails.

Church Birdhouse Plans
Hanger Attachment
Church Birdhouse Plans
Church Birdhouse - Steeple

For the hanger - I used some pretty heavy duty screw eyes (1/4" x 3-3/4") threaded through the peak of the roof into the ridge beam. Next, I ran a 20" piece of 1/16" wound cable through the two screw eyes and connected the ends with a ferrule & stop set (see upper left diagram). The screw eyes, cable and ferrule & stop set was purchased at Home Depot.

Church Birdhouse Plans
Church Birdhouse Plans

The decorative cross on the steeple, and the drawer pull used as a perch, are optional, but along with the antique white paint, add a charming finishing touch to a country church birdhouse. The cross and drawer pull was purchased from an arts and crafts store.

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